St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office Drug Take-Back Day a success

Residents properly disposed of nearly 100 pounds of unwanted or expired prescriptions and over-the-counter medications on Saturday, Oct. 27 as the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office participated in the annual National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.
Narcotics officers with the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office accepted the unwanted medications over a four-hour period at the Special Investigations Division substation, 7001 W. Judge Perez Drive in Arabi. Representatives from Ochsner Hospital’s Opioid Stewardship Program also participated in the event.
“We are glad so many residents took advantage of this opportunity to clean out their medicine cabinets and get rid of unused drugs so they don’t fall into the hands of youngsters who might misuse them or thieves who could sell them on our streets,” Sheriff Pohlmann said.
The Drug Take Back initiative, part of a national effort spearheaded by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, has seen more than 4.8 million pounds of prescription drugs collected nationwide since its inception in 2010.
Sheriff Pohlmann said residents who could not make the recent Drug Take Back Day can properly dispose of unwanted medications year-round at the Sheriff’s Office substation located at 4700 Paris Road in Chalmette.
The drop box located at the Paris Road substation was installed as part of an initiative by state Attorney General Jeff Landry, Blue Cross Blue Shield and the National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators.
The goal of the initiative is to have a location in every Louisiana parish where residents can drop off unwanted medications at any time in an effort to fight the opioid epidemic.

St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office participates in Home Depot Kids Safety Day

The St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office, along with the St. Bernard Fire Department, Louisiana State Police and Acadian Ambulance, participated in the Chalmette Home Depot’s annual St. Bernard Kids Safety Day held Saturday, Oct. 27 in the store parking lot, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.
The event featured games, crafts and building workshops for children, as well as food and refreshments.
The Sheriff’s Office brought along its Mobile Command Post, armored SWAT vehicle and bomb robot, and the St. Bernard Fire Department had its Fire Safety House on site. There also were a few antique cars on display.

The St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office closed the 20th session of its Citizens Police Academy with a graduation ceremony Oct. 24 at Nunez Community College in Chalmette.

Sheriff James Pohlmann addressed the graduates, along with Capt. Charles Borchers, head of community relations and longtime Crime-Prevention and Neighborhood Watch director for the Sheriff’s Office.
Dr. Tina Tinney, Nunez Community College Chancellor, also spoke at the event and commended the graduates for their quest for knowledge and desire to better their community.
Roy Richard, a member of the graduating class, spoke at the event on behalf of the entire graduating class of about two dozen St. Bernard residents. Richard presented Capt. Charles Borchers and Sgt. Eric Eilers, organizers of the program, with gifts of appreciation from the class.
The Citizens Police Academy is an annual 10-week, free program offered by the Sheriff’s Office that is designed to provide residents with the opportunity to learn more about what the men and women of the department do on a day-to-day basis to keep their community safe.
Capt. Borchers said nearly 900 citizens have completed the course since its inception.
During the course, participants heard from veteran representatives of each division of the Sheriff’s Office who spoke on various phases of law enforcement, including patrol work, narcotics enforcement, detective duties, and SWAT team Demonstrations. Participants visited the Parish Courthouse and Parish Prison, and they used a computerized firearms simulator borrowed from Louisiana State Attorney General Jeff Landry’s Office.
For more information about the program, call Capt. Borchers at (504) 278-7628 or Sgt. Eilers at (504) 278-7799.

St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office ‘Refuse To Be A Victim’ lecture registration

St. Bernard Parish residents looking for free expert advice on crime prevention measures for their home or business are encouraged to register for the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office’s “Refuse To Be a Victim” lecture set for Nov. 14 at 6:30 p.m. on the second floor of the Sheriff’s Training Center, 2118 Jackson Blvd. in Chalmette.

Presented by Capt. Charles Borchers, head of community relations and longtime Crime-Prevention and Neighborhood Watch director for the Sheriff’s Office, and Sgt. Eric Eilers, the lecture will include safety tips on how to avoid becoming a crime victim.

“Refuse To Be A Victim” is nationally recognized program founded in 1993.

St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office to participate in Home Depot Kids Safety Day

The St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office will participate in The Chalmette Home Depot’s annual St. Bernard Kids Safety Day set for Saturday, Oct. 27 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in The Home Depot parking lot, 8601 W. Judge Perez Drive in Chalmette, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

The event is open to St. Bernard Parish children of all ages who are accompanied by an adult.

There will be games, food, refreshments, and a workshop will be held where children are shown how to build various things.

The Sheriff’s Office will have on display various pieces of special equipment, including its Mobile Command Post, armored SWAT vehicle and bomb robot.

The St. Bernard Fire Department will bring its Fire Safety House to show kids how to drop and roll on the floor to escape smoke in a burning building.

St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office Drug Take-Back Day set for Oct. 27

St. Bernard Parish Sheriff James Pohlmann encourages residents to properly dispose of unwanted or expired prescriptions and over-the-counter medications on Saturday, Oct. 27 as the Sheriff’s Office participates in the annual National Prescription Drug Take-Back.

Narcotics officers with the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office will accept unwanted medications from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Special Investigations Division substation, 7001 W. Judge Perez Drive in Arabi, near the corner of Aycock Street.

The St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office encourages residents to properly dispose of unwanted or expired prescriptions and over-the-counter medications on Saturday, Oct. 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Special Investigations Division substation, 7001 W. Judge Perez Drive in Arabi, near the corner of Aycock Street.

“Residents should take this opportunity to clean out their medicine cabinets and get rid of unused drugs so they don’t fall into the hands of youngsters who might misuse them or thieves who could sell them on our streets,” Sheriff Pohlmann said.

The initiative, part of a national effort spearheaded by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, has seen more than 4.8 million pounds of prescription drugs collected since its inception in 2010.

For those not able to make the Oct. 27 event, the Sheriff’s Office also has a drop box located year-round at the substation at 4700 Paris Road in Chalmette.

The drop box located at the Paris Road substation was installed as part of an initiative by state Attorney General Jeff Landry, Blue Cross Blue Shield and the National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators. The goal of the initiative is to have a location in every Louisiana parish where residents can drop off unwanted medications at any time in an effort to fight the opioid epidemic.

Three Chalmette men were arrested Oct. 10 with possession with the intent to distribute marijuana and two handguns, one of which was reported stolen, were recovered during the course of an undercover investigation conducted by the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Division Narcotics Unit, St. Bernard Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Izeah White

Dorian Charles

Emon Thompson

Izeah White, 22, of the 3300 block of Golden Drive in Chalmette, was booked with possession with the intent to distribute marijuana, possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a firearm while in possession of a controlled dangerous substance, and felony possession of a firearm.

Dorian Charles, 23, of West Carolina Drive in Chalmette, was booked with possession with the intent to distribute marijuana, possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a firearm while in possession of a controlled dangerous substance, and felony possession of firearm.

Emon Thompson, 20, of the 3300 block of Golden Drive in Chalmette, was booked with possession with the intent to distribute marijuana, possession of a firearm while in possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a stolen firearm, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

After obtaining a search warrant for White and Thompson’s residence on Golden Drive, agents recovered 60 grams of marijuana, a .9mm handgun which was reported stolen out of New Orleans, a .10mm handgun, and drug paraphernalia, including clear plastic bags and a digital scale, the Sheriff said.

All three subjects were transported to St. Bernard Parish Prison to be booked.

A criminal history check was conducted on all three subjects which revealed Charles and White both have prior felony convictions.

Charles and White are both being held in St. Bernard on $100,000 bonds.

Thompson was released Oct. 15 on a $55,000 bond, but was transferred to Orleans Parish Prison on outstanding warrants out of the New Orleans Sheriff’s Office and the New Orleans Police Department.

Sheriff Pohlmann reminds residents to call the Sheriff’s Office narcotics hotline at (504) 271-DOPE or 3673 to report suspected illegal drug activity in St. Bernard Parish. Callers can remain anonymous, and all calls will be acted upon.

St. Bernard BPW 2018 Man and Woman of the Year

For nearly 60 years, the St. Bernard Business and Professional Women’s Club has honored two people annually for their contributions to the parish, as well as their professional accomplishments.

This year’s honorees, St. Bernard Sheriff James Pohlmann and Lena Torres Nunez, were recognized at the club’s 2018 Man and Woman of the Year banquet held Oct. 17 at the Frederick J. Sigur Civic Center in Chalmette.

The St. Bernard Business and Professional Women’s Club honored St. Bernard Sheriff James Pohlmann and Lena Torres Nunez as its 2018 Man and Woman of the Year. The pair were honored during a banquet held Oct. 17 at the Frederick J. Sigur Civic Center in Chalmette. At the celebration are, from left: St. Bernard Sheriff James Pohlmann, 2018 BPW Man of the Year; St. Bernard Parish District D Councilwoman Wanda Alcon, BPW past president, state vice president and National Business Women’s Week chairperson; St. Bernard Parish President Guy McInnis; Lena Torres Nunez, 2018 BPW Woman of the Year; St. Bernard Parish Councilman District A Gillis McCloskey; and Louisiana State Representative Ray Garofalo.

It’s that time of year again: time for some tricks and some treats. With that in mind, the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office is working hard to ensure residents have a spook-tacular time this Halloween by stepping up patrols and offering some safety tips as well.

As it has for years, the Sheriff’s Office will step up DWI and traffic enforcement on highways and in neighborhoods the weekend prior to Halloween, leading up to and on Oct. 31, for the protection of trick-or-treating children and adult party-goers, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

“Motorists are asked to slow down, be extra cautious and be especially watchful for pedestrians,’’ the Sheriff said.

Drivers should also look for possible roadblocks or barricades in neighborhoods, and are urged not to go around them.

Capt. Charles Borchers, director of community relations and the Neighborhood Watch programs for the Sheriff’s Office, adds that parents should be vigilant about where they allow their children to venture.

“Children and their parents who are trick-or-treating should be especially careful in areas where there are still vacant properties,” Capt. Borchers said.

Here are some other Halloween safety tips offered by the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office:

Make sure children understand to never enter a stranger’s home, and when trick-or-treating is over no goodies should be eaten until they are taken home and sorted out to check that they are safe.

Plan to wear costumes that are bright and reflective. Make sure shoes fit well and costumes are short enough to prevent tripping, entanglement or contact with flames. Consider adding reflective tape or striping to costumes and trick-or-treat bags for greater visibility.

Also, when shopping for costumes, wigs or accessories, purchase only those with a label indicating they are flame-resistant.

Secure emergency identification, such as your child’s name, address, and phone number, discreetly within Halloween attire or on a bracelet. Consider using makeup rather than masks since masks can limit or block visibility.

Provide each child with a flashlight or battery-powered lantern with fresh batteries.

Always travel in groups and make sure a parent or responsible adult accompanies young children on their neighborhood rounds.

Make sure children know their home phone number or a parent’s cell phone number and know to call 911 if they have an emergency or become lost.

Only trick-or-treat in well-known neighborhoods at homes that have a lit porch light.

Secure pets at home so they don’t get excited or run away when children come to your residence looking for treats.